Bang

Discussion ¬

A story about that last panel; it was inspired by my favorite picture of my Dad. He was in the hospital, in a hospital gown, in bed, holding my new born baby brother. When I was a kid I remember asking my Mom why Dad was in a hospital bed in a hospital gown and she told me that’s when he had his accident. Dad was an electrical lineman operating a boom truck when a drunk driver smashed into his truck and crushed his leg.

There he was, just turned 26 years old with two young boys, one three, the other two, and a baby on the way, and he’s in that accident, having his leg amputated. Meanwhile my Mom is 23, having that kid, and her husband is in really bad shape, and they’re both in the hospital at the same time.

This storyline wasn’t consciously inspired by my parents but subconsciously it probably had something to do with it.

And as long as I’m being a bit more open than usual, I might as well tell you that I choked up when I drew that last panel. I didn’t know how much Tina and Rick meant to me until I drew her on the edge of death.